Stove-pipe damper



(No Model.)

S. KEPNBR.

V STOVE PIPE DAMPER. No. 393,242. Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

N. PETERS. Photo-Lithographer. washin uu, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLOMON KEPNER, OE KENILVORTH, PENNSYLVANIA.

STOVE-PIPE DAMPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,242, dated November 20, 1888,

Application filed July 7, 1888.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SOLOMON KEPNER, of Kenilworth, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stove-Pipe Dampers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in Stovepipe dampers; and it consists in a pipe having openings upon opposite sides and at different elevations, a support which extends through the pipe, two dampers which are connected together by an angular connecting-rod which is pivoted upon the support, and asuitable weight for regulating the draft to the degree of heat'desired, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a stove-pipe with two valves which just counterbalance each other, so that they will operate in either a vertical or a horizontal position, and which can be regulated by means of a weight so as to be perfectly automatic in their operation, and thus require no attention whatever upon the part of the operator after the dampers have once been adjusted to the desired degree of heat.

The accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of a stove-pipe embodying my invention.

A represents a stove pipe of any desired shape or size, and which may be in either a horizontal, a vertical, or an inclined position, as may be desired. Through opposite sides of this pipe are made suitable cold-air holes, 13, which are placed any suitable distance one above the other, and which are made sulfieiently large to admit a sufficient quantity of air when the holes are opened by the inward movement of the dampers to regulate the draft of hot air through the pipe.

Extending through the pipe about midway between the holes B is a suitable support, D, of any desired construction, and upon which is pivoted the damper-lever F. This lever or rod F has its two ends bent at right angles and secured to the inner sides of the dampers G, which control the passage of air through the Serial No. 279,245. (No mnrlel.)

air-holes B. This rod or lever is pivoted at or near its center, and the dampers are made about the same size, so that they counterbalance each other, and can be adjusted by means of the weight I to any desired degree of heat that may be preferred.

Extending outwardly from one ofthe dampers is the L-shaped support 0, upon which the weight is hung, and which has its inner edge provided with notches or serrations, each one of which will indicate a certain degree of heat, and upon which notches the weight can be adjusted according to the amount of heat desired. When'the pipe is used in a vertical position, that part of the support which projects directly from the side of the damper will have the weight placed upon it; but if the pipe is placed in ahorizontal position, then the weight will be transferred to the other portion of the support. No matter in what position the pipe is used, the dampers act equally as well and the draft of the stove can be regulated just as perfectly.

The trouble with most of the dampers now in use is that they have to be adjusted from time to time in order to secure just the amount of heat necessary. By using the dampers or valves in pairs, counterbalancing them, and then adjusting the weight to the desired heat, the draft of the stove is automatically regulated as long as the fire lasts in the stove. As the air becomes heated it rises in a rarefied form through the pipe, forming more or less of a vacuum, and lowering the pressure inside of the pipe below what the atmospheric pressure is on the outside. As soon as the air in the pipe becomes so rarefied that the pressure within the pipe sinks so far below the atmospheric pressure on the outer side that the pressure of the air can overcome the force of the weight by forcing the dampers or valves open, as already described, cold air is admitted from opposite sides into the stovepipe A. When a greater heat than usual is required, as for baking, the weight is so adjusted that the valves or dampers will not move until the air in the pipe becomes so rarefied that its pressure is reduced far below the outside pressure of the atmosphere, when the pressure from the atmosphere forces the valves or dampers open. As soon as the fire becomes cooled down to that degree where the air in 3o jected.

the pipe is not so rarefied, then the weight draws the dampers or valves back into position, where they remain until the heat again reaches the regular degree, when the air again opens the valves or dampers.

It will readily be seen that the dampers or valves are weighted against the pressure of the regular outside air, which has a constant tendency to force them open on account of the rarefied form of the air which is inside of the pipe, and hence the dampers or valves are made sel f-actin g after they have been once set, so as to require no further attention or thought except to change the weight from time to time as a greater or less degree of heat is required. By thus making the valves or dampers selfacting the stove can never become overheated, a useless waste of fuel is prevented, and an even regular temperature is always preserved.

During stormy weather there is always a great variation in the draft, and these dampers or valves being made automatic in their action, not only by the draft of the hot air in the pipe, as well-as by the heat, they open and close so as to adjust themselves to every varying degree ofd raft. The parts which comprise this damper can be made of cast-iron, as they are entirely protected in every manner and will stand all the heat to which they may be sub- XVhere but a single damper or valve is used upon one side of the pipe and this valve opens to admit cold air, the draft is simply forced to the opposite side of the pipe without being checked to as full a degree as is desired. By using the valves in pairs and placing them upon opposite sides of the pipe, the draft cannot be forced to one side,and hence the admis sion of cold air checks the draft immediately.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a stove-pipe damper, the combination of a stove-pipe, provided with openings for the admission of cold air upon opposite sides, and two dampers or valves which control the passage of air through the openings into the pipe, the valves being connected together so as to counterbalance each other, substantially as shown.

2. In a stove-pipe damper, the combination of the Stovepipe having openings for the admission of air made through opposite sides, a suitable support, and two dampers or valves which are connected together and regulated by a single weight, substantially as described.

3. In a stovepipe damper, the combination of the stove'pipe provided with openings for the admission of air upon opposite sides and at different elevations, a support which we tends across the pipe, a lever pivoted at or near its center, the two dampers or valves secured to opposite ends of the lever, so as to counterbalance each other, a serrated support for the weight seen red to one of the valves or dampers, and a weight for regulating the temperature which the dampers or valves shall control, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SOLOMON KEPNER.

Witnesses:

F. A. LEHMANN, EDM. P. ELLIs. 

